Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 11: The Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) today said it would not allow the long-pending issue of daily wagers to be reduced to mere announcements, demanding a clear, lawful and time-bound regularisation policy from the Government.
Addressing a press conference here, EJAC General Secretary Sajad Ahmad Parray said the leadership stood firmly with thousands of daily wagers who have served for decades under uncertainty and insecurity.
“We will not allow this issue to be diluted through vague statements. These workers deserve justice, dignity and lawful regularisation,” Parray said.
While appreciating Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for acknowledging the issue as a “human issue” requiring a humanitarian approach, he said such recognition must now translate into concrete action.
Parray expressed concern that despite the Chief Minister’s strong statement, there was no visible progress on the ground.
He also pointed out that the Chief Minister, in his Budget speech, made no mention of the report of the committee constituted to submit recommendations within six months for the regularisation of daily wagers.
He further said there was no structured consultation with employee leadership during the Budget formulation process on such a sensitive matter.
Questioning the ambiguity surrounding the term “phased manner regularisation” mentioned in the Budget, Parray said it was unclear whether the Government intended regularisation under normal service rules with full benefits or a consolidated pay arrangement.
He also raised concern over the lack of clarity on the implementation of the Minimum Wages Act, questioning whether the Government intended to continue the existing wage structure or enforce minimum wages in line with other Union Territories.
Parray further questioned the feasibility of the Government’s claim that regularisation would be taken up during the current financial year without explicit budgetary allocation.
Reiterating EJAC’s demands, Parray called for a clear, lawful and transparent regularisation policy, aligned with existing service and recruitment rules, along with a definite timeline and roadmap for implementation.
Announcing the next course of action, he said the children of daily wagers would hold a peaceful protest on February 12 at Sher-e-Kashmir Park, Srinagar, seeking justice and regularisation of their parents’ services.
“The struggle of daily wagers is not political. It is about justice, dignity and humanitarian responsibility,” he added.
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